On February 26, 2026, Crazy Stone Brewing (Aichi) announced in an Instagram post that its first beer, HAZY IPA, had earned the top "Excellent" rating in the "National Tax Agency quality review."

In the post, the brewing team looked back on pushing ahead with the brew under tight time constraints, saying it had been "a continuous series of nerves until the very end," while also sharing that they poured their passion and attention to detail into the finished beer. The award seems to be a result that gives shape to those accumulated efforts.

The fact that the award recipient was the "first release HAZY IPA" is also worth noting. HAZY IPA is a popular style that emphasizes juicy aromas and a soft mouthfeel, and the precision of the recipe design and fermentation management directly affects the flavor. A high evaluation for an early release can also be read as a signal of the brewery's direction.

The post's hashtags also included place names such as "Nagoya," "Mizuho Ward," and "Aratama-bashi," suggesting a strong local focus. The account name also indicates a food-and-drink business, and its ongoing emphasis on pairing beer with food is an interesting move that broadens how craft beer can be enjoyed.

This announcement was less a flashy promotion and more a very craft-brewery-like update: first build trust through quality. The next time you raise a glass, it may be worth starting with this "Excellent"-rated beer and keeping an eye on Crazy Stone Brewing's future lineup as well.